American Government Election Update

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For courses in American Government. This text presents a succinct and timely approach to the principles and practices of the American governmental system. Concentrating on the most significant issues necessary to understanding American government, this book is specifically structured to engage today's students through a concise, stimulating style that is free of ideological and political bias. In order to stay brief, while intellectually stimulating, each edition is revised thoroughly to focus on the current issues of greatest significance.

Preface

xvii

PART I THE FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNMENT

Politics, Democracy, and the American People

1

(19)

The Nature of Politics

1

(3)

Politics and Power

2

(1)

The Bases of Political Power

2

(1)

Politics and Government

3

(1)

The Meaning of Democracy

4

(10)

Close-Up: ``Ballot Initiatives''

5

(1)

The Bases of Democracy

5

(9)

Democracy and Diversity

14

(6)

Close-Up: ``Hispanic Americans''

16

(1)

Conclusion

17

(1)

Questions for Thought

17

(1)

Internet Activity

17

(1)

Key Terms

18

(1)

Suggested Reading

18

(1)

Notes

18

(2)

From Colonialism to Constitutionalism

20

(26)

The Road to Independence

22

(2)

Early Attempts at Cooperation

22

(1)

The First Continental Congress

23

(1)

The Revolution

23

(1)

The Declaration of Independence

24

(1)

The Articles of Confederation

24

(2)

The Constitutional Convention

26

(9)

The Delegates

28

(1)

The Issues

29

(3)

Ratification

32

(3)

The United States Constitution

35

(5)

Federalism

36

(1)

Separation of Powers

36

(1)

Checks and Balances: Shared Powers

36

(2)

Judicial Review

38

(1)

Popular Sovereignty

38

(1)

National Supremacy

39

(1)

Constitutional Change and Development

40

(6)

Amending the Constitution

40

(1)

Close-Up: ``A Second Method of Proposing Amendments''

41

(1)

Other Means of Constitutional Development

42

(1)

Close-Up: ``The Twenty-Seventh Amendment''

43

(1)

Conclusion

44

(1)

Questions for Thought

44

(1)

Internet Activity

44

(1)

Key Terms

45

(1)

Suggested Reading

45

(1)

Notes

45

(1)

The Federal System

46

(24)

Federalism in the Constitution

49

(6)

Powers of the National Government

49

(1)

Close-Up: ``Coercion by Congress''

50

(1)

Limitations on the National Government

51

(1)

Powers of the States

52

(1)

Concurrent Powers

52

(1)

Limitations on the States

52

(1)

Interstate Relations

53

(1)

Close-Up: ``Gay Marriage and Full Faith and Credit''

54

(1)

Mutual Obligations of the National and State Governments

55

(3)

Close-Up: ``Life, Death, and the Federal System''

57

(1)

National Supremacy

57

(1)

Federalism in Theory and Practice

58

(7)

The Growth of the Grant System

61

(1)

Centralized Federalism

61

(1)

The New Federalism

62

(3)

The Supreme Court and Contemporary Federalism

65

(5)

Conclusion

66

(1)

Questions for Thought

67

(1)

Internet Activities

67

(1)

Key Terms

68

(1)

Suggested Reading

68

(1)

Notes

68

(2)

PART II POLITICS AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

Public Opinion and the Mass Media

70

(28)

The American Political Culture

71

(1)

Political Socialization

72

(2)

The Family

72

(1)

The School

72

(1)

The Peer Group

72

(1)

The Media

73

(1)

Social Class: Income, Occupation, and Education

73

(1)

Race and Religion

74

(1)

Place of Residence

74

(1)

History and Political Events

74

(1)

The Nature of Public Opinion

74

(2)

Measuring Public Opinion

76

(6)

Scientific Polling

77

(1)

How Polls Are Conducted

77

(3)

Close-Up: ``Television and the 2000 Election in Florida''

80

(1)

Criticisms of Public-Opinion Polling

80

(2)

The Nature of the Media

82

(12)

Roles of the Media

84

(1)

The Media and Elections

85

(1)

Television Advertising

86

(2)

The Question of Media Bias

88

(1)

The New Media

89

(1)

The Internet

90

(1)

Proposals for Reform

91

(1)

Close-Up: ``Internet Voting: Is It the Wave of the Future?''

92

(1)

Proposals for Reform

93

(1)

How Americans Participate

94

(4)

Conclusion

95

(1)

Questions for Thought

96

(1)

Internet Activities

96

(1)

Key Terms

96

(1)

Suggested Reading

96

(1)

Notes

97

(1)

Political Parties and Interest Groups

98

(30)

Political Parties

99

(2)

The American Two-Party System

101

(6)

Party Competition

103

(1)

The Nature of American Political Parties

104

(1)

Minor Parties

105

(1)

Close-Up: ``Minor Parties---Past and Present''

106

(1)

The Structure of Political Parties

107

(3)

The National Parties

107

(1)

The State and Local Parties

107

(2)

Decentralization of Party Power

109

(1)

Parties and Voters: The Decline of Party Identification

110

(2)

The Party in the Legislature

112

(1)

Reform or Status Quo?

113

(1)

Interest Groups

113

(15)

The Growth of Interest Groups

114

(1)

The Structure of Interest Groups

115

(1)

Types of Interest Groups

115

(7)

Funding of Interest Groups

122

(1)

How Powerful Are Interest Groups?

123

(1)

Close-Up: ``Rules for Lobbyists''

124

(1)

Conclusion

125

(1)

Questions for Thought

125

(1)

Internet Activities

126

(1)

Key Terms

126

(1)

Suggested Reading

126

(1)

Notes

127

(1)

Nominations and Elections

128

(32)

Nomination Procedures

129

(2)

Nominating a Presidential Candidate

131

(5)

Choosing the Delegates

131

(2)

The Preconvention Campaign

133

(1)

The National Convention

134

(2)

The Campaign

136

(7)

Campaign Financing

137

(1)

Campaign Finance Legislation

137

(4)

Campaign Strategy

141

(2)

Television Debates

143

(1)

The Election

144

(7)

Registration

144

(1)

Balloting

144

(1)

Electing the President and Vice President: The Electoral College

145

(1)

Close-Up: ``The Electoral College''

146

(3)

Congressional Elections

149

(2)

How Americans Vote (and Don't Vote)

151

(9)

Who Votes?

151

(2)

How Do Americans Vote?

153

(4)

Conclusion

157

(1)

Questions for Thought

157

(1)

Internet Activities

158

(1)

Key Terms

158

(1)

Suggested Reading

158

(1)

Notes

158

(2)

PART III THE INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT

Congress

160

(32)

The Functions of Congress

161

(9)

Legislative Functions: Expressed Powers

162

(4)

Legislative Functions: Implied Powers

166

(1)

Representation

167

(1)

Close-Up: ``Jeannette Rankin''

167

(1)

Other Constitutional Functions

168

(2)

The Congressional District

170

(2)

Close-Up: ``Politics and the Census''

171

(1)

The Two Houses: Similarities and Differences

172

(1)

Close-Up: ``The First Black Senator''

173

(1)

The Members of Congress

173

(6)

Congressional Leadership

174

(3)

Senate Leadership

177

(2)

The Committee System

179

(5)

Types of Committees

179

(2)

Committee Assignments

181

(1)

Committee Chairs

182

(1)

The Major Committees

183

(1)

The Legislative Bureaucracy

184

(1)

The Legislative Process

184

(8)

The Introduction of a Bill

184

(2)

The Committee Stage

186

(1)

The Calendar

187

(1)

Floor Procedure

187

(1)

Close-Up: ``The Filibuster''

188

(1)

Presidential Approval or Disapproval

189

(1)

Conclusion

189

(1)

Questions for Thought

190

(1)

Internet Activities

190

(1)

Key Terms

190

(1)

Suggested Reading

190

(1)

Notes

191

(1)

The Chief Executive

192

(34)

Close Up: ``A President by Any Other Name . . .''

194

(1)

Selection and Removal of the President

194

(4)

Who May Become President?

194

(1)

Succession and Disability

195

(2)

Impeachment and Removal

197

(1)

Close-Up: ``A President Impeached . . . But Not Convicted''

197

(1)

The President's Roles and Powers

198

(14)

Chief of State

198

(1)

Roles Related to Foreign Affairs

199

(3)

Commander-in-Chief

202

(2)

Chief Administrator

204

(1)

Close-Up: ``The USA Patriots Act of 2001''

205

(1)

Chief Legislator

206

(3)

Party Leader

209

(1)

National Opinion Leader

210

(1)

Manager of the Economy

211

(1)

Limits on the President's Powers

212

(6)

Judicial Review

213

(1)

The War Powers Resolution

213

(1)

Close-Up: ``The Watergate Scandal''

214

(2)

The Budget and Impoundment Control Act

216

(1)

The Bureaucracy

216

(1)

The Media

217

(1)

Public Opinion

217

(1)

The Personal Dimension

218

(3)

Beliefs, Motivations, Skills

218

(2)

Presidential Character

220

(1)

The Vice President

221

(5)

Conclusion

222

(1)

Questions for Thought

223

(1)

Internet Activities

223

(1)

Key Terms

224

(1)

Suggested Reading

224

(1)

Notes

224

(2)

The Federal Bureaucracy

226

(26)

The Organization of the Executive Branch

228

(9)

Line Agencies

228

(3)

Close-Up: ``The Homeland Security Department''

231

(1)

Close-Up: ``The Federal Reserve System''

232

(1)

Staff Agencies

232

(3)

Close-Up: ``The `East Wing'''

235

(2)

The Federal Bureaucrats

237

(5)

The Size of the Bureaucracy

237

(1)

Who Are the Bureaucrats?

238

(4)

Sources of Bureaucratic Power

242

(1)

Size

242

(1)

Expertise

242

(1)

The Agency/Committee/Interest Group Triangle

242

(1)

Delegation of Power by Congress

243

(1)

Restraints on the Bureaucracy

243

(9)

The Powers of the President

244

(1)

The Powers of Congress

245

(3)

Whistleblowers

248

(1)

Other Restraints

248

(1)

Conclusion

249

(1)

Questions for Thought

250

(1)

Internet Activities

250

(1)

Key Terms

250

(1)

Suggested Reading

251

(1)

Notes

251

(1)

The Judiciary

252

(30)

The Law

254

(3)

Criminal and Civil Law

256

(1)

The Adversary System

256

(1)

The Role of the Courts

257

(1)

The Role of the Judge

257

(1)

The Dual Court System

257

(6)

Close-Up: ``The Supreme Court as a Trial Court''

259

(1)

The State Courts

259

(1)

The Federal Courts

260

(3)

The Supreme Court

263

(4)

Oral Arguments

263

(1)

Conferences

264

(1)

Opinions

264

(1)

Close-Up: ``Dissenting Opinions''

265

(1)

The Role of the Chief Justice

265

(1)

Bringing a Case before the Court

266

(1)

The Court's Workload

267

(1)

Selection of Federal Judges

267

(5)

Selecting Judges for Lower Federal Courts

267

(1)

Judicial Appointments, 1980-2004

268

(1)

Appointing Supreme Court Justices

269

(1)

Confirmation and Tenure

270

(2)

The Functions of the Judiciary

272

(6)

Judicial Review

273

(2)

Restrictions on the Court

275

(1)

Close-Up: ``Impeachment of Federal Judges''

275

(2)

Close-Up: ``FDR's `Court-Packing' Plan''

277

(1)

The Supreme Court: A Brief History

278

(4)

Conclusion

279

(1)

Questions for Thought

279

(1)

Internet Activities

279

(1)

Key Terms

280

(1)

Suggested Reading

280

(1)

Notes

280

(2)

PART IV THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL

Civil Liberties

282

(28)

Applying the Bill of Rights to the States

284

(1)

Freedom of Religion

284

(4)

The Free Exercise Clause

284

(2)

The Establishment Clause

286

(2)

Freedom of Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

288

(8)

Censorship: The Rules Against Prior Restraint

289

(1)

Sedition: Advocacy of Illegal Acts

290

(1)

Close-Up: ``Can Racist Speech Be Prohibited?''

290

(1)

Protecting Public Order: The First Amendment in Public Places

291

(1)

Protecting Public Morals: Obscenity

292

(1)

Close-Up: ``Free Speech and the Internet''

293

(1)

Libel and Slander

293

(1)

The First Amendment and Campaign Spending

294

(1)

The Right of Association

294

(1)

Commercial Speech

295

(1)

Symbolic Speech

295

(1)

Free Press and a Fair Trial

296

(1)

The Rights of the Criminally Accused

296

(14)

Search and Seizure

297

(1)

The Exclusionary Rule

298

(1)

Electronic (and Other Forms of) Surveillance

299

(1)

Freedom from Self-Incrimination

300

(1)

Indictment by a Grand Jury

301

(1)

Double Jeopardy

301

(1)

The Right to Counsel

301

(1)

The Right to an Impartial Jury

302

(2)

Confessions

304

(1)

Close-Up: ``Silence and Self-Incrimination''

304

(2)

``Cruel and Unusual Punishment'' and the Death Penalty

306

(1)

Conclusion

307

(1)

Questions for Thought

307

(1)

Internet Activity

308

(1)

Key Terms

308

(1)

Suggested Reading

308

(1)

Notes

308

(2)

Civil Rights

310

(28)

The Rights of African Americans

312

(12)

Close-Up: ``Asians in the United States: The Early Years''

315

(1)

School Desegregation and Brown v. Board of Education

316

(4)

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

320

(2)

Close-Up: ``Landmark Victories For Gays''

322

(2)

Women's Rights

324

(5)

Equality in Employment

326

(1)

The Constitution and Women's Rights

326

(3)

The Civil Rights of the Disabled

329

(1)

Affirmative Action

330

(2)

The Right to Vote

332

(6)

The Voting Rights Act of 1965

333

(1)

Conclusion

334

(1)

Questions for Thought

335

(1)

Internet Activities

335

(1)

Key Terms

335

(1)

Suggested Reading

336

(1)

Notes

336

(2)

PART V PUBLIC POLICY

Public Policy---What Government Does

338

(22)

What Is Public Policy?

339

(3)

Who Makes Public Policy?

340

(1)

Types of Public Policy

341

(1)

The Policy-Making Process

342

(5)

Stages of the Process

342

(1)

Close-Up: ``Getting Social Security Reform on the Policy Agenda''

343

(2)

The Context of Policy Making

345

(1)

The Structure of Policy Making

346

(1)

Economic Policy

347

(4)

Tools and Strategies for Managing the Economy

347

(2)

Close-Up: ``Pension Reform: A Global View''

349

(2)

Social Welfare Policy

351

(9)

Conclusion

357

(1)

Questions for Thought

357

(1)

Internet Activities

357

(1)

Key Terms

357

(1)

Suggested Reading

358

(1)

Notes

358

(2)

Foreign Policy

360

(60)

Competing Theories of International Relations

362

(1)

Realism

362

(8)

Realism and American Foreign Policy

364

(1)

Close-Up: ``The Monroe Doctrine''

365

(3)

Close-Up: ``President Washington's Farewell Address''

368

(1)

Close-Up: ``The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine''

369

(1)

Liberalism

370

(4)

President Wilson and World War I

371

(1)

Contemporary Liberalism

372

(1)

Selective Engagement

373

(1)

Liberalism and Realism as Enduring Perspectives

374

(1)

The Post-Cold War Period

374

(1)

The Rise of International Terrorism

375

(3)

The Preemption Doctrine

377

(1)

American Foreign Policy: The Domestic Context

378

(9)

Governmental Sources

379

(2)

Close Up: ``The Supreme Court and Foreign Affairs''

381

(1)

Societal Sources

382

(1)

Conclusion

383

(1)

Questions for Thought

384

(1)

Internet Activities

384

(1)

Key Terms

384

(1)

Suggested Reading

384

(1)

Notes

385

(2)

APPENDICES

A The Declaration of Independence

387

(2)

B The Articles of Confederation

389

(5)

C The Antifederalists

394

(4)

D The Federalist

398

(7)

E The Constitution of the United States of America

405

(7)

F Amendments to the Consititution

412

(6)

G Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United States

418

(2)

Glossary

420

(9)

Photo Credits

429

(1)

Name Index

430

(3)

Subject Index

433

It was early in a new century and a new millennium. I was working on the revisions of the tenth edition of this textbook on American government. My thoughts turned to the political system of the United States one hundred years ago. How did it compare with the system that operated at the start of the twenty-first century? Had we improved American democracy in the past hundred years? A detailed examination of these questions would require the production of a book-length manuscript and I was faced with publishing deadlines for this volume. But I have put together a few thoughts on the state of American democracy then and now. My overall conclusion is that despite some weaknesses in our present system, our political system is markedly improved and far more democratic today than it was a hundred years ago. Consider the following facts. In 1900, African Americans in the South lived in a segregated society. Separation of the races existed in both the private and public spheres. Private companies and individuals were free to discriminate and government laws required racial segregation in all public facilities from schools and parks to bathrooms and drinking fountains. The entire system of segregation was given legal sanction by the 1896 decision of the United States Supreme Court inPlessy v. Ferguson.This case held that government could require the separation of the races so long as the facilities provided to each group were equal. In reality," separate but equal" meant separation but not equality for black Americans. It was only with the 1954 Supreme Court case ofBrown v. Board of Educationand the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that racial segregation was gradually brought to an end in this country. Voting rights in the United States were also restricted in 1900. Despite the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution that protected African Americans from being denied the right to vote because of their race, very few voted in the American South. Devious legal schemes, intimidation, and violence kept most African Americans from voting in this region of the nation. It was not until after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that blacks were freely able to vote in the South. Similarly, few women voted in the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century. Although women had been granted the right to vote in a number of states, no constitutional provision existed to bar the states from denying them the right to vote. That changed in 1920 with the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment. In the decades since this change occurred, more and more women have participated in American politics. Indeed, in recent presidential elections, more women have voted than men. In 1900, United States senators were chosen by the state legislatures. Most often this meant that a few influential state political leaders made these important decisions. In 1913, the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution was adopted, making United States senators popularly elected by the voters in each state. Finally, in 1900, there was little in the way of social legislation to protect Americans when they became unemployed, disabled, ill, or when they retired. They were forced to depend on relatives or on charity provided by churches and other private organizations. The country did not even have child labor laws to protect children from working long hours in factories and mines. Although some European countries had established social security systems by 1900--Germany, for example--it was not until 1935 that the United States adopted legislation that established the Social Security retirement system. Later in the same decade, Congress also enacted laws that established the maximum number of hours a person could work each week, created a minimum wage, outlawed child labor, and formulated a program of unemployment insurance. And it was not until the 1960s that Congress passed legislation t